Huarum  of  Natural 

U11RARY 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

PUBLICATION  183. 
ORNITHOLOGICAL  SERIES.  VOL.  I,  No.  9. 


NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN 

BIRDS,  WITH  DESCRIPTIONS 

OF  NEW  SUBSPECIES 


BY 

CHARLES    B.  CORY 
Curator  of  Department  of  Zoology. 


CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 
August  7,  1915. 


NOTES   ON   SOUTH   AMERICAN   BIRDS,  WITH 
DESCRIPTIONS   OF   NEW  SUBSPECIES 


BY  CHARLES  B.  CORY 


Since  the  publication  of  my  previous  paper  on  South  American  birds 
received  from  Museum  expeditions,  further  study  of  the  collections  has 
brought  to  light  several  apparently  new  forms  which  are  here  described. 
In  this  connection  I  wish  to  express  my  thanks  to  the  authorities  of 
various  museums  and  individuals  for  the  loan  of  specimens  for  com- 
parison, and  especially  to  Prof.  Robert  Ridgway  and  Dr.  C.  W.  Rich- 
mond of  the  United  States  National  Museum,  Washington,  D.  C.,  to 
Dr.  F.  M.  Chapman  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  New 
York,  to  Dr.  Witmer  Stone  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of 
Philadelphia,  and  to  Mr.  J.  Rodway  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  and  Com- 
mercial Society  of  British  Guiana. 

Threnetes  leucurus  rufigastra  subsp.  nov. 

Type  from  Moyobamba,  Peru.  Adult  female,  No.  47153,  Field 
Museum  of  Natural  History.  Collected  by  W.  H.  Osgood  and  M.  P. 
Anderson,  January  24,  1912. 

Similar  in  size  and  general  markings  to  T.  I.  leucurus  from  Guiana, 
but  differs  in  having  the  sides,  flanks  and  abdomen  decidedly  more 
brownish  buff;  back  somewhat  more  bronzy  green  than  in  leucurus. 

Leucippus  fallax  richmondi  nom.  nov. 

In  1895  (Auk,  XII,  p.  369)  Dr.  C.  W.  Richmond  separated  the 
Margarita  Island  form  of  Leucippus  fallax,  naming  it  Doleromya  pallida. 
It  is  apparently  a  perfectly  good  subspecies,  the  characters  given  for  it 
being  well  marked  in  a  good  series.  Unfortunately,  however,  Dr. 
Richmond's  name  pallida  can  not  be  used  for  it,  being  antedated  by 
Leucippus  pallidus  Taczanowski  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  Part  4,  1874 
[1875],  p.  542;  and  again  in  Orn.  Perou,  I,  1884,  p.  402).  I  therefore 
propose  to  name  the  pale  Margaritan  bird  Leucippus  fallax  richmondi. 
I  have  examined  thirteen  males  and  a  female  from  Margarita  Island, 

303 


304    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

and  three  males  and  a  female  (?)  from  Tortuga  Island  in  this  Museum, 
collected  by  John  F.  Ferry. 

Piaya  cayana  cearae  subsp.  nov. 

Type  from  Jua,  near  Iguatu,  Ceara,  Brazil.  Adult  female,  No. 
47457,  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Collected  by  R.  H.  Becker, 
August  20,  1913. 

Back  approaching  hazel  brown,  but  coloration  duller  and  less  rufes- 
cent  than  in  P.  c.  colombiana  from  Colombia,  and  nearer  P.  c.  pallescens 
(from  state  of  Bahia) ;  throat  nearly  as  in  pallescens. 

Nearest  to  P.  c.  pallescens,  but  differs  in  having  upper  parts  lighter; 
upper  surface  of  rectrices  brighter  and  more  rufescent  (less  tinged  with 
purplish);  lower  abdomen  and  thighs  pale  ashy  (not  neutral  gray); 
under  tail  coverts  shading  into  pallid  neutral  gray,  decidedly  paler  and 
more  whitish  than  in  any  other  known  form;  under  surface  of  rectrices 
strongly  rufescent,  similar  to  P.  c.  colombiana,  not  dull  blackish  tinged 
with  rufous  as  in  specimens  examined  of  P.  c.  pallescens  from  various 
localities  in  Bahia;  middle  of  abdomen  ashy  white. 

Wing,  156;  tail,  280;  bill,  26;  tarsus,  39  mm. 

Specimens  examined  from  Jua,  2  d%  2  ?  ;  from  Quixada,  Ceara,  i  9  . 
A  specimen  from  Pernambuco  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection 
(No.  39704)  appears  to  be  intermediate  between  this  form  and  P.  c. 
pallescens,  but  approaches  nearer  to  pallescens  than  to  cearce.  The 
Pernambuco  bird  approaches  cearce  in  the  coloration  of  the  lower 
abdomen,  under  tail  coverts  and  flanks,  but  is  much  nearer  pallescens 
in  the  coloration  of  the  upper  parts  and  the  darker  and  more  purplish 
upper  surface  of  rectrices  and  the  less  rufous  under  surface  of  those 
feathers. 

Piaya  melanogaster  ochracea  subsp.  nov. 

Type  from  Yurimaguas,  Yane  Yaca,  Peru.  Female,  No.  44096, 
Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Collected  by  M.  P.  Anderson, 
September  8,  1912. 

Similar  to  P.  m.  melanogaster,  but  differs  in  having  the  bill  smaller 
and  general  coloration  somewhat  paler;  crown  paler  and  more  ashy 
gray;  upper  parts,  throat  and  breast  more  tinged  with  ochraceous 
rufous. 

Wing,  131;  tail,  216;  tarsus,  37;  bill  (oilmen),  24;  depth  of  bill, 
12  mm. 

Compared  with  specimens  from  British  Guiana  these  differences 
appear  to  be  constant. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         305 
Chrysoptilus  punctigula  zulias  subsp.  nov. 

Type  from  Encontrados,  Zulia,  western  Venezuela.  Adult  male, 
No.  34632,  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Collected  by  N.  Dear- 
born, February  14,  1908. 

Similar  to  C.  p.  punctipectus  from  Cumana,  Venezuela,  in  general 
coloration  of  upper  parts,  but  differs  in  having  the  throat  much  blacker, 
the  white  spots  being  much  smaller,  and  the  under  parts,  except  middle 
of  lower  abdomen,  with  rounded  black  spots  somewhat  approaching 
C.  p.  guttatus  from  northern  Peru.  It  differs  from  C,  p.  guttatus  from 
Peru  in  its  much  more  olive  and  less  golden  green  back  with  smaller  and 
narrower  black  bands  on  the  upper  parts;  smaller  white  spots  on  the 
throat,  and  lack  of  reddish  tinge  on  the  lower  throat  and  upper  breast 
(the  last  character  may  vary  with  age).  From  C.  p.  ujhelyii  and 
C.  p.  striatigularis  it  may  be  distinguished  at  a  glance  by  its  spotted 
(not  streaked)  throat,  more  heavily  banded  upper  parts,  and  other 
characters. 

Wing,  99;  tail,  70;  bill,  21;  tarsus,  18  mm. 

This  apparently  well  marked  subspecies  inhabits  the  heavily  wooded, 
low,  humid  region  in  the  vicinity  of  Encontrados  and  Catatumbo. 
Two  females  from  La  Ceiba,  Trujillo,  Venezuela,  while  not  typical 
approach  close  to  this  form.  Specimens  examined  from  Venezuela: — 
Encontrados,  Zulia,  20",  4$;  Catatumbo,  2  $ ;  La  Ceiba,  Trujillo, 
2  9  (not  quite  typical). 

For  convenience  of  ornithologists  the  following  key  to  the  group 
is  submitted: 


KEY  TO  THE  SUBSPECIES  OF  Chrysoptilus  Punctigula  (BoDD.). 

A.  Throat  black,  spotted  with  white. 

Upper  parts  brownish  golden  olive;  wing,  about   105;  tail,  62; 
oilmen,  23  mm. 

C.  punctigula  punctigula  (Bodd.) .  (Cayenne) 

Guiana. 

Upper  parts  slightly  more  golden  olive;  wing,  about  no;  tail,  70, 
oilmen,  23  mm. 

C.    punctigula    guttatus    (Spix).     (Amazon 

region,  Brazil)  Amazon  region  and  northeast 

Peru. 

Upper  parts  much  less  golden  and  more  olive  green;  abdomen  and 
flanks  without  black  spots. 


306    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

C.  punctigula  punctipectus  (Cab.  &  Hein.). 

(Venezuela)    Venezuela,   northeastern   Co- 

lombia. 

Upper  parts  approaching  punctipectus,  but  throat  blacker,  with 
white  spots  smaller,  breast  more  heavily  spotted;  abdomen  and 
flanks  more  or  less  spotted. 

C.  punctigula  zulice  Cory.     (Encontrados, 

Zulia,  Venezuela)  Lower  Catatumbo  River 

region,  Zulia,  Venezuela. 
B.  Throat  white,  streaked  with  black. 

Black  bars  on  feathers  of  upper  parts  longer;  under  parts  more 
heavily  spotted. 

C.   punctigula   striatigularis   Chapman. 

(Cali,    Cauca    Valley,    Colombia)     Cauca 

Valley  region,  Colombia,  west  of   eastern 

Andes. 

Black  bars  on  feathers  of  upper  parts  small  and  narrow  and  more 
or  less  obscure;  spots  on  under  parts  smaller. 

C.  punctigula  ujhelyii  Madarasz.     (Araca- 

taca,   Santa  Marta,   Colombia)    Northern 

Colombia. 

Veniliornis  tcenionotus  cearas  subsp.  nov. 

Type  from  Serra  Baturite,  Ceara,  Brazil.    Adult  male,  No.  47441, 
Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.     Collected  by  R.  H.  Becker,  July  1  8, 


Similar  to  V.  t.  t&nionotus  from  Bahia,  etc.,  but  upper  parts  much 
more  golden;  the  transverse  yellow  barring  on  back  less  distinct;  under 
parts  paler,  more  olivaceous;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  strongly 
tinged  with  golden  yellow  (not  olive  with  yellowish  markings  as  in 
typical  V.  t.  t&nionotus)  ;  outer  tail  feather  much  more  strongly  banded 
with  yellowish  buff. 

Wing,  87;  tail,  63;  bill,  20;  tarsus,  16  mm. 

Specimens  examined:  —  i  c?,  2  9  from  Serra  Baturite,  Ceara;  i  9 
from  Jua,  near  Iguatu,  Ceara.  One  of  the  females  from  Serra  Baturite 
has  the  lower  back  and  upper  tail  coverts  tinged  with  red. 

Scapaneus  melanoleucus  cearas  subsp.  nov. 

Type  from  Jua,  near  Iguatu,  Ceara,  Brazil.  Adult  male,  No.  47463, 
Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Collected  by  R.  H.  Becker,  August 
24,  1913. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         307 

Similar  to  5.  w.  melanoleucus ,  but  much  smaller. 

Wing,  160;  tail,  118;  bill,  38  mm. 

Birds  from  Macaco  Secco,  near  Andarahy,  Bahia,  are  apparently 
intermediate  in  size  between  5.  m.  melanoleucus  and  S.  m.  cearce,  and 
might  be  referred  to  either  form,  the  measurements  of  the  male  being: 
wing,  175;  tail,  125;  bill,  39  mm.  But  in  a  series  of  specimens  from 
Guiana,  which  I  assume  to  represent  typical  5.  m.  melanoleucus,  the 
average  measurements  of  the  males  are:  wing,  188;  tail,  140;  bill, 
40  mm. 

Scapaneus  pallens  peruviana  subsp.  nov. 

Type  from  Molinopampa,  Peru.  Adult  female,  No.  44816,  Field 
Museum  of  Natural  History.  Collected  by  W.  H.  Osgood  and  M.  P. 
Anderson,  June  18,  1912. 

Similar  to  5.  p.  pollens  from  Colombia,  but  differs  in  having^the 
under  parts  darker  and  more  chestnut  buff;  the  black  bars  heavier  and 
clearly  marked  on  the  lower  abdomen,  flanks  and  under  tail  coverts;  the 
white  patch  on  the  back  more  strongly  tinged  with  buff;  and  the  rump 
and  the  upper  tail  coverts  deeper  ochraceous  buff  without  bars. 

Wing,  170;  tail,  125;  bill,  45  mm. 


DESCRIPTIVE  KEY  TO  THE  SOUTH  AMERICAN  SPECIES  AND  SUB- 
SPECIES BELONGING  TO  THE  GENUS  Piaya 

(Colors  as  given  in  Ridgway's  Color  Standards  and  Color  Nomenclature, 
Washington,  1912.     Type  localities  given  in  parenthesis.) 

I.  Crown  gray,  very  different  from  the  back. 

Bill  red;  back  hazel;  throat  and  breast  cinnamon  rufous; 
abdomen  dull  black;  wing,  about  130;  tail,  about  225;  culmen, 
25;  depth  of  bill,  12  mm. 

Piaya   melanogaster   melanogaster    (Vieill.). 

(Guiana)    Guiana    and    northern    Brazil, 

Ecuador? 

Similar  but  paler;  upper  parts  and  throat  more  tawny;  bill 
somewhat  smaller;  wing,  about  130;  tail,  about  225;  culmen, 
23;  depth  of  bill,  10  mm. 

Piaya  melanogaster  ochracea  Cory.     (Yuri- 

maguas,  Peru)  Peru. 

II.  Crown  nearly  the  same  color  as  the  back. 

A.  Size  small;  wing  less  than  115  mm.  (4.50  in.). 


308    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

Bill  yellowish;  back  chestnut  f errugineous ;  throat  and  breast 
cinnamon  rufous;  abdomen  gray  tinged  with  buff;  wing,  about 
107;  tail,  about  155  mm. 

Piaya     rutila     Illiger.     (Cayenne)     South 
American  from  Brazil  and  Peru  northward. 
B.  Size  larger;  wing  more  than  115  mm.  (4.50  in.). 

a.  More  or  less  of  under  surface  of  rectrices  distinctly  rufous 
or  rusty. 
a1  Under  tail  coverts  grayish. 

Back  between  auburn  brown  and  Sanford  brown; 
throat  vinaceous  fawn;  upper  abdomen  pale  mouse 
gray;  lower  abdomen  neutral  gray;  under  tail  coverts 
slightly  darker  neutral  gray;  thighs  smoke  gray;  under 
wing  coverts  ashy  white;  wing,  about  140;  tail,  about 
295  mm. 

Piaya  cayana  colombiana  (Cab.).  (Carta- 
gena, Colombia)  Northern  Colombia  and 
Venezuela. 

Back  between  Hessian  brown  and  claret  brown; 
throat  fawn  color;  upper  abdomen  smoke  gray;  lower 
abdomen  deep  neutral  gray;  under  tail  coverts  darker, 
approaching  dark  neutral  gray;  thighs  deep  neutral 
gray;  rusty  coloration  on  tail  decidedly  darker  than 
in  colombiana;  under  wing  coverts  pale  mouse  gray; 
wing,  about  140;  tail,  about  290  mm. 

Piaya  cayana  venezuelensis  Cory.  (Orope, 
Zulia,  Venezuela)  Low  country  of  Orope 
region,  Zulia,  Venezuela. 

Back  near  hazel  brown;  throat  approaching  vinaceous 
fawn,  but  with  a  tinge  of  ochraceous  (paler  and  quite 
different  from  cayana);  upper  abdomen  between 
smoke  gray  and  light  neutral  gray  (similar  to  cay  and) ; 
lower  abdomen  neutral  gray,  shading  into  slightly 
darker  neutral  gray  on  under  tail  coverts;  under  sur- 
face of  rectrices  only  tinged  with  rufous  and  not 
strongly  rufous  as  in  cearce;  wing,  about  147;  tail, 
285  mm. 

Piaya  cayana  pallescens  (Cab.  &  Hein.). 
("North  Brazil,"  suggest  Bahia)  Central 
and  eastern  Brazil. 

Back  approaching  hazel  brown,  but  paler  than  in 
pallescens  from  Bahia;  throat  as  in  pallescens;  upper 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         309 

abdomen  pallid  mouse  gray;  middle  of  abdomen  ashy 
white;  thighs,  lower  abdomen  and  under  tail  coverts 
between  pale  neutral  gray  and  pallid  neutral  gray, 
much  paler  than  in  any  other  known  form;  under 
surface  of  rectrices  strongly  rufescent;  wing,  about 
148;  tail,  about  285  mm. 

Piaya  cayana  cearce  Cory.  Qua,  Ceara, 
Brazil)  Northeast  Brazil  (Ceara). 
Back  between  auburn  brown  and  chestnut  bay; 
throat  vinaceous  fawn;  upper  abdomen  between 
smoke  gray  and  light  neutral  gray;  lower  abdomen 
neutral  gray;  under  tail  coverts  near  dark  neutral 
gray.  Approaches  cayana  cayana,  but  brighter 
coloration  above,  rusty  marking  on  under  surface  of 
rectrices  and  somewhat  smaller  size  will  distinguish 
it.  Wing,  about  140;  tail,  about  240  mm. 

Piaya  cayana  insulana  Hellmayr.  (Trinidad) 
b1  Under  tail  coverts  black. 

Back  between  bay  and  mahogany  red;  throat  fawn 
color;  under  wing  coverts  pale  mouse  gray;  upper 
abdomen  between  neutral  gray  and  smoke  gray;  lower 
abdomen,  thighs  and  under  tail  coverts  deep  black; 
wing,  about  140;  tail,  about  285  mm. 

Piaya  cayana  cauca  Stone.  (Rio  Cauca, 
Colombia)  Cauca  Valley  and  possibly  south 
to  Ecuador.* 

b.  Under  surface  of  rectrices  blackish  or  at  most  with  a  tinge 
of  ^rufous  or  rusty  on  some  feathers. 
c1  Under  tail  coverts  grayish. 

Back  chestnut  bay,  between  claret  brown  and  Hessian 
brown;  throat  vinaceous  fawn;  upper  abdomen  be- 
tween smoke  gray  and  neutral  gray;  lower  abdomen 
neutral  gray;  under  tail  coverts  near  dark  neutral 
gray;  under  wing  coverts  whitish  ashy;  wing,  about 
143;  tail,  about  280  mm. 

Piaya  cayana  cayana  (Linn.).     (Cayenne) 
Guiana,   eastern  Venezuela  and  northern 
Brazil. 
d1  Under  tail  coverts  blackish. 

Back  between  bay  and  chestnut;  upper  abdomen 

*  A  specimen  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  Collection,  No.  236439,  labeled 
"Ecuador,"  is  apparently  this  form. 


310    FIELD  MUSEUM  OP  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

pallid  neutral  gray;  lower  abdomen  between  smoke 
gray  and  neutral  gray;  under  tail  coverts  grayish 
black;  under  wing  coverts  pale  mouse  gray;  wing, 
about  144;  tail,  about  265  mm. 

Piaya  cay  ana  nigricrissa  Sclater  (Babahoyo, 
Ecuador)  *  Northern  Peru,  Ecuador,  and 
Colombia  north  to  Bogota. 

Compared  with  nigricrissa  from  Ecuador.  P.  c. 
mehleri  from  Central  America  has  the  lower  breast 
and  upper  abdomen  approaching  neutral  gray  (de- 
cidedly darker  than  in  nigricrissa);  the  lower  abdomen 
and  thighs  are  also  distinctly  more  blackish,  the 
under  tail  coverts  slightly  so,  and  the  coloration  of  the 
upper  parts  is  darker.  Differs  from  P.  c.  nigricrissa 
in  its  ashy  gray  (instead  of  quite  black)  tibia,  and 
blackish  gray  (instead  of  black)  crissum;  under  sur- 
face of  the  tail  entirely  black.  Differs  from  P.  cay  ana 
in  the  much  darker  brown  (less  fox  red)  upper  parts, 
and  the  blackish  under  tail  coverts.f 

Piaya  cayana  obscura  Snethlage.  (Rio 
Purus,  W.  Brazil)  Western  Brazil,  Bolivia, 
S.  E.  Peru.J 

Back  walnut  bay;  throat  vinaceous  fawn;  under  wing 
coverts  pale  mouse  gray;  upper  abdomen  between 
smoke  gray  and  neutral  gray;  lower  abdomen  black- 
ish; under  tail  coverts  blackish  (more  nearly  black 
than  in  nigricrissa,  but  not  so  deep  black  as  in  caucce); 
thighs  dusky  or  dark  neutral  gray;  wing,  about  170; 
tail  (Paraguay  specimens),  about  365  mm.§ 

Piaya  cay  ana  tnacrottraGambell.  (Paraguay) 
Paraguay  and  southern  Brazil. 

*  There  appears  to  be  no  question  as  to  the  type  locality  of  this  subspecies,  the 
name  nigricrissa  having  been  first  applied  by  Dr.  Sclater  to  three  examples  from 
Babahoyo,  Ecuador,  which  he  considered  to  be  new.  Later,  in  giving  a  list  of  the 
species  of  Piaya  in  his  collection,  he  states  he  has  specimens  of  the  new  form  "ex 
Nov.  Grenada,  rep.  Ecuat.  et  Peru."  (Proc.  Zo6l.  Soc.  Lond.,  1860,  p.  285.) 

t  From  original  description,  as  I  have  seen  no  specimens.  The  description  is 
unsatisfactory  and  no  measurements  are  given.  P.  c.  nigricrissa  from  Ecuador  has 
the  tibia  approaching  neutral  gray  or  only  slightly  darker,  and  the  crissum  is  grayish 
black  (not  deep  black  as  in  cauccs). 

t  As  given  by  Brabourne  &  Chubb,  Bds.  South  America,  I,  1912,  p.  152. 

§  Specimens  from  Paraguay  and  extreme  southern  Brazil  are  very  large,  while 
those  from  farther  north  are  much  smaller  and  may  be  separable  subspecifically  (for 
remarks  on  this  subject  see  ante). 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         311 

A  REVISION  OF  THE  SPARROW  HAWKS  (GENUS  CERCHNEIS) 
OF  SOUTH  AMERICA  AND  ADJACENT  ISLANDS 

In  describing  the  supposed  new  subspecies  belonging  to  this  genus 
in  the  present  and  in  a  previous  paper,*  the  writer  examined  about  200 
specimens  from  South  America  and  adjacent  islands,  including  the  type 
specimens  of  all  the  described  forms  except  that  of  C,  s.  isabellina  and 
C.  s.  australis  (gracilis  Swainson).  The  study  of  this  large  series  seems 
to  show: 

1.  That  the  extent  of  the  rufous  on  the  crown  (when  present)  is 
more  or  less  variable  with  the  age  of  the  individual,  but,  while  in  birds 
from  North  America  and  the  West  Indies  it  is  present  in  the  majority 
and  is  rarely  entirely  absent  even  in  specimens  which  are  evidently 
adult,  in  birds  from  South  America  it  is  absent  in  the  majority  of  speci- 
mens and  when  present  seems  to  be  much  more  restricted  in  extent, 
more  than  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  series  of  males  from  South  Ameri- 
ca having  no  rufous  on  the  crown  and  in  a  number  of  others  having  it 
merely  indicated  by  a  slight  trace.     Very  few  males  have  a  well  marked 
crown  patch  and  at  most  it  is  apparently  restricted  to  the  basal  half. 
The  material  available  is  not  sufficient  to  decide  to  what  extent  a  rufous 
patch  is  present  in  the  very  young  of  these  forms. 

2.  That  no  dependable  correlation  exists  in  the  extent  of  the  rufous 
crown  patch  and  the  black  banding  of  the  back.     Very  young  birds 
apparently  always  have  the  back  heavily  banded,  but  in  those  which  I 
have  examined  the  amount  of  rufous  on  the  crown  is  very  variable,  one 
young  male  from  Curacao  in  its  first  plumage  showing  merely  a  trace  of 
rufous.     Some  apparently  adult  males  have  considerable  rufous  on  the 
crown  and  almost  the  entire  back  banded  with  black,  while  others  from 
the  same  region  have  about  the  same  amount  of  rufous  on  the  crown  and 
the  back  practically  immaculate.     Six  apparently  adult  males  from  the 
Rio  Branco  region  (northern  Brazil)  have  clear  gray  crowns,  but  three 
of  them  have  the  back  considerably  banded  and  three  have  it  almost 
immaculate.    Two  specimens  from  the  same  region  show  a  small  rufous 
patch  on  the  crown;  one  of  these  has  a  few  small  bands  on  the  lower  back, 
while  in  the  other  the  back  is  nearly  immaculate.     While  the  females 
from  the  same  locality  have  the  markings  of  the  upper  parts  practically 
identical,  two  have  a  rufous  crown  patch  and  in  two  it  is  absent. 

3.  That  the  banding  of  the  back  apparently  varies  with  age  in  indi- 
viduals, but  to  what  extent  remains  to  be  determined.     In  young  males 
the  whole  back  is  usually  heavily  banded,  while  in  adults  the  upper  back 
at  least  is  nearly  or  quite  immaculate. 

*  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.,  Ornith.  Series,  I,  No.  8,  1915,  pp.  293-302. 


312    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

4.  That  the  extent,  shape  and  size  of  the  black  spots  on  the  under 
parts  in  males  from  the  same  region  evidently  vary  in  individuals  of 
practically  the  same  age,  and  while  in  some  cases  they  apparently  show 
decided  diminution  in  the  adult,  in  others  they  are  much  more  persistent. 
In  the  series  before  me,  old  males  of  C.  s,  cinnamomina  and  C.  s.  australis 
have  the  spots  much  smaller,  narrower,  and  confined  to  the  sides  and 
upper  abdomen,  the  lower  abdomen  and  flanks  being  immaculate.     In 
the  young  the  spots  are  much  larger  and  extend  upon  the  lower  abdomen 
and  flanks.    In  C.  s.  brevipennis,  however,  (and  probably  other  closely 
allied  forms)  very  young  males  have  the  lower  breast  and  practically  the 
whole  of  the  abdomen  heavily  spotted  with  black,  while  in  old  males 
the  under  parts  appear  to  be  nearly  immaculate,  the  black  spots  being 
largely  or  wholly  confined  to  the  flanks  and  sides  of  the  body.     It  is  also 
evident,  at  least  in  some  of  the  South  American  forms,  that  the  presence 
or  absence  of  rufous  on  the  crown  and  the  extent  of  the  black  spots  on  the 
under  parts  are  not  correlated,  as  for  example,  in  the  series  of  20  males 
from  Chapada,  Matto  Grosso,  and   Bahia,  none  of   the  specimens 
showing  rufous  on  the  crown  differ  very  appreciably  in  the  amount 
of  black  spotting  on  the  under  parts  from  those  having  the  crown  clear 
gray. 

5.  That  the  variation  in  coloration  and  marking  of  the  outer  rectrix 
is  very  great  in  specimens  from  some  regions,  but  decidedly  less  so  from 
others;  and  while  the  instability  of  this  character  apparently  renders  it 
by  itself  of  little  or  no  diagnostic  value,  it  seems  desirable  that  in  regions 
where  deviation  from  the  general  type  appears  to  be  the  exception  it 
should  be  taken  into  consideration  in  connection  with  other  differences 
in  distinguishing  subspecies,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  to  enable  future 
investigators  to  draw  their  own  conclusions. 

As  an  illustration  of  this,  in  the  series  before  me  28  males  from 
Colombia  and  western  Venezuela  show  great  variation  in  the  coloration 
and  pattern  of  the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix:  in  some  it  is  largely 
rufous;  in  others  black  and  white  without  rufous;  and  again  part  white 
and  part  rufous,  sometimes  with  one  and  again  with  several  black  bars. 
Under  such  conditions  such  a  character  would  be  obviously  useless  in 
diagnosis.  In  fact  in  some  individuals  the  outer  rectrix  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  tail  is  differently  colored  in  the  same  bird.  This  is  at  least 
suggestive,  and  as  the  weight  of  evidence  appears  to  prove  that  this  per- 
plexing variation  in  coloration  is  not  due  to  age,*  it  would  seem  not  un- 
likely that  it  might  be  largely  the  result  of  intergradation  in  regions 

*  Specimens  which  I  have  examined  show  that,  with  the  exception  of  a  rusty 
tinge  on  the  tip,  the  coloration  of  the  outer  rectrix  is  normally  the  same  in  young 
and  old  birds  of  C.  s.  patilus  and  C.  s.  brevipennis.  See  also,  Hartert,  Nov.  Zo6l., 
1898,  p.  501. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         313 

where  two  or  more  subspecies  meet,*  or,  in  regions  where  such  varia- 
tion is  the  exception,  to  a  tendency  to  atavism  or  reversion  towards  an 
ancient  type  from  which  they  have  become  more  or  less  differentiated 
by  difference  in  environment.  Specimens  from  other  parts  of  South 
America,  however,  do  not  show  such  extreme  variability  in  this  char- 
acter; in  fact  deviation  from  the  regional  type  is  seemingly  the  exception. 
In  the  series  of  specimens  from  Peru  and  Chile  the  normal  coloration  of 
the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix  posterior  to  the  subterminal  black  band 
seems  to  be  rufous,  as  it  is  so  represented  in  20  out  of  24  specimens  from 
those  regions.  On  the  other  hand,  out  of  20  males  from  the  Provinces  of 
Matto  Grosso  and  Bahia,  Brazil,  16  have  the  inner  web  of  the  outer 
rectrix  alternately  barred  with  black  and  white  without  rufous;  3  have 
it  part  white  and  part  rufous,  and  only  one  shows  the  rufous  coloration 
as  in  the  normal  Chilean  bird.  All  of  the  males  which  I  have  seen  from 
Margarita  I.  and  7  of  the  9  from  Curacao  and  Aruba  have  the  inner 
web  of  the  outer  rectrix  (posterior  to  the  subterminal  black  bar)  barred 
with  black  and  white.  In  two  from  Curacao  it  is  variegated,  being 
part  rufous  and  part  white,  while  in  all  the  specimens  from  the  Rio 
Branco  region,  northern  Brazil  (7  males  from  Boa  Vista),  it  is  plain 
rufous. 

6.  That  the  variation  in  length  of  the  subterminal  black  zone  or 
band  on  the  rectrices  seems  to  represent  a  good  racial  character,  being 
very  short  in  cinnamomma  from  Chile,  strikingly  long  in  ochracea  from 
northern  Colombia  and  northern  Venezuela,  and  showing  a  gradual 
gradation  in  intermediate  races. 

7.  That  the  absence  or  presence,  as  well  as  the  size  and  number,  of 
the  white  spots  on  the  outer  webs  of  some  of  the  outer  primaries  repre- 
sents a  good  distinguishing  character  in  some  races. 

8.  That  there  is  comparatively  little  individual  variation  in  the 
intensity  of  the  coloration  of  the  under  parts  in  adults  of  the  same  sub- 
species, but  that  immature  birds  are  paler.     In  very  young  males  the 
gray  wing  coverts  are  tipped  with  rufous  buff  and  the  inner  primaries 
strongly  tipped  with  white  or  whitish. 

9.  That  the  configuration  and  confluence  or  non-confluence  of  the 
distal  white  patches  on  the  inner  webs  of  the  outer  primaries  seem  to  be 
too  variable  to  be  of  value  in  diagnosis,  and  apparently  have  no  depend- 
able racial  significance.     For  example,  in  one  of  the  eight  specimens 
of  peruviana  now  before  me,  none  of  the  markings  are  confluent;  in  two 

*  A  possible  analogy  suggests  itself  in  the  case  of  Colaptes  auratus  luteus  and 
Colaptes  caffer  collaris  in  the  Yellowstone  and  Black  Hills  regions  in  North  America, 
where  great  irregularities  in  coloration  are  very  frequent,  abnormally  colored  speci- 
mens approaching  the  California  form,  C.  c.  collaris,  being  also  occasionally  found 
east  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  vice  versa. 


314    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

the  distal  patches  are  confluent  on  the  fourth;  in  three  they  are  conflu- 
ent on  the  third;  and  in  two,  on  the  third  and  fifth  primary.  The 
same  irregularity  is  shown  in  all  specimens  representing  other  races, 
with  the  exception  of  cauca,  fully  96  per  cent,  having  the  distal  patches 
joined  on  at  least  one  primary  and  the  majority  on  two  or  more.  In 
cauc&,  however,  none  of  the  specimens  examined  have  any  of  these 
markings  confluent,  but  in  view  of  the  variability  of  the  character  in 
other  forms  it  would  seem  probable  that  in  ca-ucae  also  in  a  larger  series 
it  would  be  found  to  be  inconstant. 


LIST  OF  THE  SUBSPECIES  OF  Cerchneis  sparveria  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA, 
WITH  TYPE  LOCALITIES 

Cerchneis  sparveria  cinnamomina  (Swains.).     (Chile)     See  page  315. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  fernandensis  Chapman.  (Masatierra,  Juan  Fer- 
nandez Islands.)  See  page  316. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  australis  Ridgway.     (Bahia,  Brazil)     See  page  316. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  peruviana  Cory.  (Chachapoyas,  alt.  about  7700 
ft.,  northern  Peru.)  See  page  319. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  cauca  Chapman.  (La  Manuelita,  alt.  about  3500 
ft.,  near  Palmira,  Cauca  Valley,  Colombia.)  See  page  321. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  aquatorialis  Mearns.  (Guayaquil,?  Ecuador.) 
See  page  322. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  andina  *  subsp.  nov.  (Quito,  alt.  about  9300  ft., 
Ecuador.)  See  page  323. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  intermedia  *  subsp.  nov.  (Villavicencio,  alt.  about 
1600  ft.,  base  of  eastern  Andes,  Colombia.)  See  page  325. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  ochracea  Cory.  (Colon,  alt.  about  2500  ft.,  western 
Venezuela.)  See  page  326. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  perplexa  subsp.  nov.  (Lower  Essequibo  River, 
British  Guiana.)  See  page  327. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  isabellina  (Swains.).     (Demerara.)  See  page  328. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  distincta  Cory.  (Boa  Vista,  Rio  Branco,  Amazonas, 
Brazil.)  See  page  330. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  margariiensis  Cory.  (Margarita  Island,  Venezuela.) 
Seepage  331. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  brevipennis  (Berlep.).  Curacao,  Aruba  and  Bon- 
aire Islands.  See  page  332. 

*  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  F.  M.  Chapman,  Curator  of  Birds  in  the  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York,  for  permission  to  name  these  new  forms,  the 
types  being  in  the  collection  of  that  museum. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         315 

DISTINGUISHING  CHARACTERS  AND  SUPPOSED  DISTRIBUTION  OF  SUB- 
SPECIES OF  Cerchneis  sparveria  (LiNN.)  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA 
AND  ADJACENT  ISLANDS 

Cerchneis  sparveria  cinnamomina  (Swains.). 

Falco  cinnamomina  Swains.,  Anim.  in  Menag.,  I,  1837,  p.  281. 

Type  locality:     "Chile." 

Range:  Chile,  northwestern,  western  and  southern  Argentina  to 
Patagonia  and  Straits  of  Magellan,  northward  to  southern  Peru  and 
Paraguay;  intergrading  with  australis  in  northeastern  Argentina,  Para- 
guay, and  Rio  Grande  do  Sul,  Brazil,  and  with  peruviana  in  southern 
Peru. 

Characters:  Male.  Size  large;  tips  of  rectrices  with  more  or  less 
rufous,  usually  rufous  or  rufous  and  white;  central  rectrices  often 
entirely  tipped  with  rufous,  but  usually  with  rufous  and  gray;  sub- 
terminal  black  band  short  (from  9  to  16,  averaging  about  13),  decidedly 
narrower  than  in  australis  or  peruviana;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix 
normally  rufous,  usually  with  one  subterminal  black  band  and  a  white 
or  white  and  rufous  tip;  breast  tinged  with  pale  ochraceous  rufous 
(averaging  nearly  as  pale  as  in  australis);  under  parts  whitish,  with 
more  or  less  numerous  rounded  black  spots;  exposed  white  spots  on 
outer  webs  of  outer  primaries  restricted  to  2  or  3  small  narrow  marks 
near  the  shaft  on  the  third  and  occasionally  showing  a  trace  of  one  on 
the  second. 

Wing,  187  to  199,  average  193;  tail,  129  to  143,  average  134  mm. 

Female.  Similar  to  australis,  but  averaging  larger;  black  bars  on 
rectrices  narrower  and  less  complete  and  subterminal  band  nar- 
rower; outer  rectrix  occasionally  immaculate. 

Wing,  195  to  208,  average  198;  tail,  132  to  144,  average  137  mm. 

Comparative  differences:  Male  differs  from  australis  (from  Bahia 
and  Matto  Grosso)  in  averaging  considerably  larger  and  in  difference 
in  normal  coloration  of  the  rectrices  (australis  usually  has  no  rufous 
on  the  outer  rectrix,  the  tips  of  most  of  the  rectrices  white,  and  rarely 
showing  any  rufous) ;  subterminal  black  bands  on  the  rectrices  narrower, 
and  under  parts  usually  not  quite  so  pale.  Female  differs  from  australis 
in  average  larger  size;  black  bars  on  tail  narrower  and  less  complete; 
subterminal  band  narrower;  outer  rectrix  with  black  marking  usually 
smaller  and  more  often  immaculate.  Male  of  cinnamomina  differs 
from  peruviana  by  its  larger  size,  more  whitish  and  more  heavily  spotted 
under  parts;  breast  paler  (less  tinged  with  ochraceous  rufous);  sides 
and  flanks  whitish  (not  noticeably  tinged  with  ochraceous  buff  as  in 
peruviana);  subterminal  band  on  tail  shorter. 


316    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

Specimens  examined:  "Chile"  —  3  d",  i  ?  ;  Valdivia,  i  d";  Cautin, 
ic?,  2  9  ;  Santiago,  id1,  i  9  ;  Straits  of  Magellan,  i  9 . 

Argentina  —  Chilicito,  Prov.  of  Rioja,  i  d",  i  9  ;  Rio  Chico  (Pata- 
gonia), 2  9  ;  Rio  Grande  do  Sul,  i  d",  i  $  (not  typical,  intergrades). 

Remarks:  Two  specimens  from  Rio  Grande  do  Sul  are  apparently 
intergrades  between  this  form  and  australis.  The  male  is  of  large  size 
(wing,  197)  and  shows  a  little  rufous  bordering  the  white  on  the  tips  of 
some  of  the  rectrices;  the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix  has  the  basal 
half  rufous  and  the  terminal  half  white  with  black  bars;  the  subterminal 
black  bands  on  the  rest  of  the  rectrices  are  nearly  as  narrow  as  in 
cinnamomina.  All  specimens  examined  from  Chile,  both  male  and 
female  (with  one  exception),  show  more  or  less  rufous  on  the  crown; 
some  with  a  small  but  well  defined  crown  patch  and  others  with  merely 
a  trace.  The  single  exception  (male),  which  shows  no  trace  of  rufous 
on  the  crown,  agrees  with  the  others  in  the  extent  of  the  spotting  on 
the  under  parts  and  barring  on  the  upper  parts. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  fernandensis  Chapman. 

Cerchneis  sparverius  fernandensis  Chap.,  Bull.  Am.  Mus.  Nat. 
Hist.  N.  Y.,  XXXIV,  1915,  p.  379. 

Type  locality:    Masatierra  I.,  Juan  Fernandez  Islands  (off  Chile). 

Characters:  Nearest  to  C.  s.  cinnamomina,  but  very  different  from 
any  South  American  race.  From  cinnamomina  it  differs  in  being  much 
more  deeply  colored  and  the  under  parts  more  heavily  and  extensively 
marked  with  black;  breast  more  ochraceous  rufous;  upper  parts  much 
darker,  approaching  rufous  chestnut;  ventral  region  and  under  tail 
coverts  clear  buff;  tips  of  central  rectrices  largely  rufous,  the  others 
white  with  more  or  less  rufous;  tail  band  averaging  about  13  mm. ;  outer 
webs  of  primaries  without  white  spots  or  with  only  a  trace  on  the  third. 

Wing,  189;  tail,  134;  tarsus,  33  mm. 

Adult  female  differs  from  cinnamomina  in  its  darker  upper  parts; 
under  parts  strongly  washed  with  deep  rufous  ochraceous  and  with 
darker  brown  markings. 

Wing,  200;  tail,  135;  tarsus,  36  mm. 

Comparative  differences:  Readily  distinguished  from  other  races 
by  its  deeply  colored  and  heavily  marked  (almost  mottled)  under  parts. 

Specimens   examined:    Juan   Fernandez   Islands  —  Masatierra   I., 

3*,  3?. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  australis  Ridg. 

Falco  gracilis  Swains.,  (not  of  Lesson)  Anim.  in  Menag.,  I,  1837, 
p.  281. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         317 

Falco  sparverius  var.  australis  *  Ridg.,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila. 
1870,  p.  149. 

Type  locality:     Province  of  Bahia,  Brazil. 

Range:  Brazil,  ranging  northward  nearly  or  quite  to  the  Amazon 
River  and  Pernambuco  (and  Ceara?) ;  intergrading  with  cinnamomina 
in  extreme  southern  Brazil  (Rio  Grande  do  Sul),  Paraguay,  and  north- 
eastern  Argentina,  and  probably  with  peruviana  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  Andes  in  Bolivia  and  eastern  Peru. 

Characters:  Adult  male.  General  coloration  and  black  spotting 
of  the  under  parts  resembling  cinnamomina,  but  under  parts  averaging 
slightly  more  whitish  and  size  smaller;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  nor- 
mally black  and  white  without  rufous;  subterminal  black  band  on  rec- 
trices  comparatively  broad,  averaging  (in  20  males  from  Matto  Grosso 
and  Bahia)  22  mm.;  white  spots  on  outer  webs  of  outer  primaries  as  in 
cinnamomina. 

Wing,  175  to  185,  average  180;  tail,  122  to  133,  average  127  mm. 

Adult  female.  Similar  to  cinnamomina,  but  smaller  and  black  bars 
on  rectrices  broader  and  more  complete. 

Wing,  182  to  195,  average  186;  tail,  123  to  132;  average,  129  mm. 

Comparative  differences:  Adult  male.  Differs  from  C.  s.  cinnamo- 
mina in  its  smaller  size;  the  tips  of  the  rectrices  normally  white  or 
whitish  (except  the  central  pair  which  are  usually  grayish) ;  subterminal 
black  band  on  rectrices  broader  (usually  20  mm.  or  more) ;  inner  web  of 
outer  rectrix  normally  barred  with  black  and  white,  without  rufous; 
under  parts  averaging  whiter;  tail  relatively  and  actually  shorter. 

Female  differs  from  cinnamomina  in  its  average  smaller  size  and  in 
having  the  black  bars  on  the  rectrices  wider  and  more  complete,  and 
subterminal  band  wider. 

Male  differs  from  C.  s.  peruviana  in  more  whitish  under  parts;  breast 
paler  (less  tinged  with  ochraceous  cinnamon  rufous) ;  sides  and  flanks 
whiter  (not  noticeably  tinged  with  pale  ochraceous  cinnamon);  inner 
web  of  outer  rectrix  normally  black  and  white  (not  rufous  as  in 
peruviana);  crown  averaging  paler.  Female  differs  from  peruviana  in 
relatively  shorter  tail  and  average  paler  brown  markings  on  under 
parts. 

*  Alternative  name  for  F.  gracilis  Swainson  (which  was  preoccupied)  and  there- 
fore the  type  locality  is  Bahia,  as  given  by  Swainson.  The  fact  that  Ridgway  later 
(in  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway,  Hist.  N.  A.  Bds,  III,  1874,  p.  166)  described  a  bird 
from  Parana,  Paraguay,  as  australis,  and  that  a  specimen  in  the  U.  S.  National  Mus- 
eum collection  (No.  20937)  is  labeled,  "Type  of  Tinnunculus  sparverius  var.  australis 
Ridgw.,"  has  no  bearing  on  the  case  and  does  not  change  the  original  type  locality. 
Furthermore  the  Parana  specimen  is  apparently  an  intergrade  between  cinnamomina 
and  australis,  and  in  my  opinion  approaches  somewhat  nearer  the  former  than  the 
latter. 


318    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

Specimens  examined:  Brazil — Chapada,  Matto  Grosso,  18  o" ,  22  9  ; 
Sao  Marcello,  Rio  Preto,  Bahia,  2  o" ;  Pernambuco,  2  <? ;  PQuixada,* 
Ceara,  i  d* . 

Paraguay  —  Rio  Parana',  3  o",t  (2  intergrades,  not  typical). 

Argentina  —  Conchitas,  Buenos  Ayres,  2  d"  (intergrades). 

Remarks:  Out  of  twenty  males  from  the  Provinces  of  Matto  Grosso 
and  Bahia,  Brazil,  sixteen  have  the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix  black 
and  white,  three  have  it  part  rufous  and  part  white  and  only  one  has  the 
whole  web  (except  the  black  subterminal  band  and  white  tip)  rufous. £ 
One  specimen  from  Chapada,  Matto  Grosso,  has  the  tip  of  several  of  the 
rectrices  largely  rufous  as  in  cinnamomina,  but  the  outer  rectrix  is  part 
rufous  and  part  white  and  the  wing  measures  182  mm. 

Fourteen  of  the  twenty  males  have  the  crown  plain,  with  no  trace  of 
rufous;  five  show  a  trace  of  rufous;  and  one  has  a  well  marked  rufous 
crown  patch;  the  last  can  be  matched  in  the  banding  of  the  upper  parts 
and  spotting  of  the  under  parts  by  specimens  having  no  rufous  on  the 
crown. 

Two  males  from  Pernambuco,  Brazil,  may  be  referred  to  australis, 
and  the  locality  probably  represents  about  the  northern  limits  of  its 
range.  In  one  the  wing  measures  173  and  in  the  other  180  mm.  Both 
specimens  have  the  under  parts  well  spotted  and  one  has  the  inner  web 
of  the  outer  rectrix  black  and  white;  in  the  other  the  outer  rectrices  have 
been  lost.  One  has  the  crown  immaculate,  but  the  other  shows  a  well 
marked  rufous  crown  patch. 

Two  males  from  Conchitas,  Buenos  Ayres,  Argentina,  are  apparently 
intergrades  between  this  form  and  cinnamomina,  although  a  good  series 
from  northeastern  Argentina  might  prove  them  to  be  subspecifically 
distinct  from  either.  They  are  large  (wing,  190  and  195)  and,  while  the 

*  The  single  male  specimen  which  I  have  seen  from  Quixada,  Ceara,  Brazil, 
is  provisionally  referred  to  this  race.  It  is  evidently  not  adult  and  the  general 
coloration  of  the  upper  parts  is  decidedly  paler  than  in  either  australis  or  distincta. 
The  markings  of  the  under  parts  approach  australis  in  being  spotted;  but  the  black 
spots  are  smaller,  largely  linear  in  shape  and  more  scattered.  The  inner  web  of  the 
outer  rectrix  is  pale  rufous,  with  the  usual  subterminal  black  bar  and  white  tip,  in 
this  approaching  distincta.  The  gray  crown  approaches  that  of  distincta  in  color 
and  there  is  a  large  rufous  crown  patch.  The  distal  white  patches  on  the  inner 
webs  of  the  outer  primaries  are  decidedly  larger  and  extend  much  farther  towards 
the  end  of  the  feather  than  in  any  specimen  of  australis  or  distincta  seen  by  me.  It 
may  prove  to  be  an  immature  intergrade  between  australis  and  distincta  or  isabellina, 
but  it  is  not  unlikely  that  it  represents  a  pale  local  race  peculiar  to  those  arid  regions. 
If  this  should  prove  to  be  the  case,  I  propose  for  the  Ceara  bird  the  name,  Cerchneis 
sparveria  ceara  (Type  from  Quixada,  Ceara,  Brazil.  Male,  No.  47593,  Field  Museum 
of  Natural  History.  Collected  by  R.  H.  Becker,  June  19,  1913.  Wing,  170;  tail. 
126;  tarsus,  34  mm.). 

t  See  remarks  concerning  these  specimens  p.  319. 

%  This  is  a  young  male,  the  size  being  very  small  (wing,  167;  tail,  no);  plumbe- 
ous wing  coverts  with  rusty  tips;  entire  back  barred,  etc.  It  is  not  included  in  the 
average  measurements  of  the  species. 


AUGUST,  1915.     NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         319 

narrow  subterminal  black  band  on  the  tail  approaches  cinnamomina, 
the  tips  of  the  feathers  are  white  (the  central  ones  grayish),  without 
rufous ;  the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix  in  both  specimens  is  black  and 
white,  but  in  one  it  shows  some  rufous  on  the  basal  portion.  Three 
males  and  one  female  from  the  Parana  region,  Paraguay  (Coll.  U.  S. 
National  Museum),  may  be  briefly  described  as  follows: 

Male,  No.  20937,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  labeled  "Exploration  of  the 
Parand,  Sept.,  1860.  Type  of  Tinnunculus  sparverius  var.  australis 
Ridgw." 

Crown  with  small  patch  of  rufous;  under  parts  nearly  white  (with 
no  noticeable  wash  of  ochraceous  rufous  on  breast),  marked  with 
numerous  comparatively  small  linear  spots  of  black;  tips  of  rectrices 
largely  worn  off,  but  three  outer  ones  showing  more  or  less  white; 
greatest  width  of  subterminal  black  band  on  any  of  the  rectrices  17  mm. ; 
inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  on  one  side  of  the  tail  rufous,  with  one  subter- 
minal black  band;  the  outer  rectrix  on  the  opposite  side  with  basal  por- 
tion rufous,  the  terminal  third  white,  with  two  black  bands;  wing,  193; 
tail,  133  mm.  This  specimen  is  apparently  an  intergrade  between 
cinnamomina  and  australis,  more  nearly  approaching  the  former. 

Male,  No.  119802,  agrees  in  coloration  and  marking  with  specimens 
from  Bahia,  but  the  size  is  large  (wing,  195;  tail,  137),  no  rufous  on  the 
tips  of  rectrices;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  black  and  white;  width  of  tail 
band  on  central  rectrices,  18  mm. 

Male,  No.  119801,  agrees  very  well  in  size  and  coloration  with  some 
Bahia  specimens  (wing,  184;  tail,  128) ;  tips  of  some  of  the  rectrices  with 
a  tinge  of  rufous;  tail  band  18  mm. ;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  black  and 
white,  but  showing  a  trace  of  rufous  along  the  shaft  on  the  basal  portion. 

Female,  No.  20936,  approaches  some  specimens  from  Chile  in  size 
and  coloration  (wing,  196;  tail,  143). 

Cerchneis  sparveria  peruviana  Cory. 

Cerchneis  sparverius  peruviana  Cory,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
Pub.,  Ornith.  Series,  I,  No.  8,  1915,  p.  296. 

Type  locality:    Chachapoyas,  Peru;  alt.  about  7700  ft. 

Range:  Peru  and  southern  Ecuador,  probably  intergrading  with 
C.  s.  cinnamomina  in  southern  Peru;  with  australis  in  Bolivia  and 
possibly  with  aquatorialis  in  southern  Ecuador. 

Characters:  Male.  Breast  pale  ochraceous  cinnamon  rufous, 
somewhat  paler  on  sides  of  body  and  shading  into  cinnamon  buff  on 
abdomen;  buffy  white  on  thighs  and  under  tail  coverts;  sides  of  body 
and  flanks  with  large  rounded  black  spots  and  often  a  few  linear  black 


320    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

spots  on  the  abdomen  largely  confined  to  the  middle  of  the  feathers; 
tail  feathers  tipped  with  white,  more  or  less  mixed  with  rufous  (in  some 
specimens  the  rufous  color  predominating) ;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix 
normally  rufous,  with  one  subterminal  black  bar,  the  tip  white;  outer 
web  of  third  outer  primary  with  three  white  spots ;  the  second  with  one 
small  narrow  streak  or  only  a  slight  trace;  tail  band  about  19  mm. 

Wing,  175  to  183,  average,  181;  tail,  129  to  138,  average  134  mm. 

Female.  Similar  to  female  of  australis,  but  upper  parts  and  upper 
surface  of  tail  averaging  slightly  more  deeply  colored  and  outer  tail 
feathers  more  often  nearly  immaculate. 

Wing,  180  to  193,  average,  186;  tail,  131  to  140,  average,  135  mm. 

Comparative  differences:  Male  differs  from  C.  s.  cinnamomina  in 
smaller  size;  breast  noticeably  more  ochraceous  cinnamon  rufous;  sides 
and  flanks  tinged  with  ochraceous  cinnamon  (not  white  or  almost  white 
as  in  cinnamomina) ;  subterminal  black  band  on  tail  broader. 

Male  differs  from  C.  s.  australis  in  deeper  colored  under  parts;  more 
ochraceous  cinnamon  rufous  on  breast ;  sides  and  flanks  distinctly  washed 
with  pale  ochraceous  cinnamon  (not  white  as  in  australis') ;  inner  web  of 
outer  rectrix  normally  rufous  (not  black  and  white  as  in  australis}; 
crown  darker  and  tail  longer.  Female  differs  from  australis  in  rela- 
tively and  actually  shorter  tail;  and  somewhat  paler  brown  markings 
on  the  under  parts. 

Male  differs  from  C.  s.  aquatoriaUs  in  smaller  size  and  much  less 
deeply  colored  under  parts.  Differs  from  C.  s.  cauc(z,  to  which  it  is 
very  closely  related  apparently,  only  in  the  paler  coloration  of  the  breast 
which  in  cauccz  more  nearly  approaches  C.  s.  ochracea;  also  less  pro- 
nounced white  spots  on  outer  web  of  second  and  third  primaries.  From 
andina  and  intermedia  it  may  be  distinguished  at  a  glance  by  the  spotted 
and  much  paler  under  parts  and  other  characters. 

Specimens  examined:  Peru  —  Chachapoyas,  id1;  Macate,  2  d1, 
3  9  ;  Menocucho,  i  d1;  Mirador,  id",  i  9;  Hda.  Limon,  near  Balsas, 
i  d1 ;  Cajamarca,  i  9  ;  Lima,  i  d1. 

Ecuador  —  Huigra,  i  d1 ;  Junction  of  Chanchan  and  Chiguancay 
Rivers,  i  d1. 

Bolivia  —  Yungas,  i  d1  (not  typical). 

Remarks:  Of  seven  males  from  Peru,  six  have  the  inner  web  of  the 
outer  rectrix  rufous,  with  subterminal  band  of  black  and  the  tip  white, 
and  one  (from  Macate)  has  it  black  and  white.  All  have  the  tips  of 
the  rectrices  more  or  less  rufous,  and  in  two  the  rufous  color  predomi- 
nates, resembling  cinnamomina  in  this  character;  the  subterminal  black 
band  on  the  rectrices  varies  in  width  from  17  to  20  mm.  in  different 
specimens.  None  of  the  males  show  any  trace  of  rufous  on  the  crown, 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         321 

but  two  of  the  females  show  a  slight  trace  and  three  have  a  small  but  well 
marked  rufous  crown  patch;  all  of  the  males  are  more  or  less  spotted 
on  the  under  parts. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  caucae  Chapman. 

Cerchneis  sparverius  cauc&  Chap.,  Bull.  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y., 
XXXIV,  1915,  P.  375- 

Type  locality:  La  Manuelita  (alt.  3500  ft.),  near  Palmira,  Cauca 
Valley,  Colombia. 

Range:  Western  Colombia  and  western  slopes  of  Central  Andes; 
northwestern  Ecuador. 

Characters:  Adult  male.  Similar  to  C.  s.  peruviana  in  size  and 
general  marking,  but  differs  in  deeper  cinnamon  coloration  of  the  breast 
(approaching  that  of  ochracea);  outer  web  of  second  outer  primary 
usually  with  two  small  white  spots,  the  outer  web  of  third  with  three  well 
marked  white  spots;  distal  white  patches  on  inner  webs  of  outer  pri- 
maries (in  specimens  examined)  not  confluent;*  length  of  tail  band,  17 
to  22  mm. 

Wing,  175  to  185;  tail,  119  to  132  mm. 

Adult  female.  Similar  to  the  female  of  peruviana,  but  coloration  of 
upper  parts  darker  and  under  parts  more  tinged  with  buff. 

Wing,  183  to  186;  tail,  129  to  135  mm. 

Comparative  differences:  This  form  may  be  readily  distinguished 
from  C.  s.  andina,  C.  s.  intermedia,  and  C.  s.  ochracea  by  its  spotted 
under  parts;  from  C.  s,  peruviana  by  the  character  already  given;  from 
C.  s,  aquatorialis  by  its  shorter  tail  band,  shorter  tail,  and  smaller  size; 
and  from  cinnamomina  and  australis  by  its  much  more  deeply  colored 
under  parts  and  other  characters. 

Specimens  examined:  Colombia  —  La  Manuelita  (near  Palmira), 
alt.  3500  ft.,  Cauca  Valley,  (Type)  i  d%  i  9  ;  Cali,  Cauca,  i  d" ;  La  Flo- 
rida, west  of  Popayan,  i  d",  i  9  ;  La  Tig,  Cauca,  id",  i  9 ;  Noamama, 
Rio  San  Juan,  Cauca,  i  9 . 

Ecuador  —  Gulea,  Prov.  Pichincha,  i  d*  (not  typical). 

Remarks:  The  specimen  from  Gulea,  Ecuador,  approaches  cauca, 
but  is  larger  and  white  spots  are  present  on  the  outer  web  of  the  fourth 
(outer)  primary.  All  Colombian  specimens  which  I  have  seen  have 
two  small  white  spots  or  streaks  on  the  outer  web  of  the  second  (outer) 
primary  and  three  larger  ones  on  the  third;  one  male  has  a  trace  of 
rufous  on  the  crown,  in  the  rest  it  is  plain;  none  of  them  have  the  distal 
white  patches  confluent  on  any  of  the  outer  primaries. 

*  See  remarks  concerning  this  character,  p.  313. 


322     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  asquatorialis  (Mearns). 

Falco  sparverius  cequatorialis  Mearns,  Auk,  1892,  p.  269. 

Type  locality:    Ecuador  (Guayaquil?;  exact  region  unknown). 

Range:    Ecuador. 

Characters:  Male  (Type,  No.  101309,  U.  S.  National  Museum). 
General  coloration  and  spotting  of  under  parts  approaching  caucce,  but 
size  larger;  outer  web  of  second  outer  primary  immaculate;  third 
with  two  small  narrow  white  spots;  tail  band  wide;  tail  long;  inner  web 
of  outer  rectrix  black  and  white,  without  rufous. 

Wing,  192;  tail,  141;  width  of  tail  band,  26  mm. 

Female  (No.  67349,  U.  S.  National  Museum).  Wing,  195;  tail, 
139  mm. 

Comparative  differences:  Differs  from  C.  s.  andina  in  the  heavy  spot- 
ting of  the  under  parts  and  somewhat  paler  coloration;  in  the  much 
wider  tail  band;  and  in  the  absence  of  the  pronounced  white  markings 
on  outer  webs  of  several  outer  primaries.  From  cauc&  and  peruviana 
it  differs  by  its  larger  size;  longer  and  much  wider  tail;  and  also  from  the 
latter  in  the  more  deeply  colored  under  parts.  From  cinnamomina  it 
differs  in  its  very  much  wider  tail  band  and  more  deeply  colored  under 
parts;  and  from  C.  s.  ochracea  in  its  somewhat  larger  size;  longer  tail; 
and  strongly  spotted  under  parts. 

Remarks:  The  type  locality  of  this  subspecies  may  or  may  not  have 
been  Guayaquil,  Ecuador,*  as  given  by  Mearns;  and  it  is  by  no  means 
certain  that  the  female  came  from  the  same  locality  as  the  male,  or  in 
fact  is  the  same  subspecies.  The  male,  however,  having  been  first 
described,  must  be  accepted  as  the  type  of  C.  s.  aquatorialis.  While 
it  is  probable  that  the  type  specimen  was  not  killed  in  the  vicinity  of 
Guayaquil,  until  specimens  have  been  secured  from  this  locality  for 
comparison  we  have  no  grounds  for  the  positive  assertion  that  it  was 
not,  as  it  differs  from  any  other  specimen  which  I  have  seen  from 
Ecuador  or  elsewhere.  The  type  specimen  is  apparently  not  fully 
adult  and  is  intermediate  in  size  between  the  large  deeply  colored  and 
comparatively  unspotted  birds  from  Quito  and  Mt.  Chimborazo  (C.  s. 
andina')  and  the  strongly  spotted  and  smaller  birds  from  lower  altitudes 
(C.  s.  cauccB  &  C.  s.  peruviana).  It  is,  however,  quite  similar  to  some 
of  the  latter  in  coloration,  and  not  greatly  different  in  size  (except  for 
its  longer  tail)  from  a  specimen  which  is  apparently  C.  s.  caucce  from 

*  Dr.  C.  W.  Richmond  writes  me  as  follows:  "I  find  that  Dr.  Jones  received 
the  birds  from  a  Mr.  Cartright  of  Guayaquil,  who  was  constantly  receiving  them  from 
the  interior  of  Ecuador.  So  it  appears  that  the  type  localities  of  the  Falco  atquatori- 
alis,  the  Columba  guayaquilensis  and  the  Xiphocolaptes  saturatus  described  from  this 
collection  will  always  be  in  doubt."  (See  also  Chapman,  Bull.  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist., 
N.  Y.,  XXXIV,  1915,  P-  377-) 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         323 

Gulea,  Province  of  Pichincha,  but  it  differs  from  both  forms  in  its  broad 
tail  band  (which  measures  26  mm.)  and  absence  of  the  white  markings 
on  the  second  (outer)  primary  which  is  strongly  marked  in  C.  s.  andina 
and  usually  present,  but  in  a  very  much  less  degree,  in  cauca.  If  we 
assume  this  puzzling  specimen  to  be  an  intergrade,  we  are  confronted 
by  a  problem  to  determine  to  which  race  it  should  be  referred  on 
account  of  the  wide  tail  band  and  plain  outer  webs  of  the  second 
(outer)  primaries,  characters  which  are  not  found  in  either  of  the 
other  Ecuadorian  races.  Even  should  the  spotting  of  the  under 
parts  ultimately  disappear  with  maturity  (which  so  far  as  we  know 
in  strongly  spotted  birds  is  questionable),  it  would  be  difficult  to 
identify  it  with  any  known  form  on  account  of  the  other  differences. 
I  have  therefore  provisionally  considered  C.  s.  Gequatorialis  to  repre- 
sent a  distinct  subspecies  from  an  unknown  locality,  until  a  much 
larger  series  of  specimens  from  Ecuador  is  available  for  comparison  and 
the  relationship  of  forms  inhabiting  that  region  can  be  more  satisfac- 
torily determined. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  andina  subsp.  nov. 

Type  from  Quito  (alt.  about  9300  ft.),  Ecuador.  Male,  No.  123965, 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York.  Collected  by 
Wm.  B.  Richardson,  May  21,  1913. 

Range:  Ecuador,  probably  largely  or  wholly  confined  to  altitudes 
ranging  from  5000  to  13000  feet. 

Characters:  Male.  Similar  to  C.  s.  ochracea  in  the  deeply  colored 
ochraceous  cinnamon  under  parts,  but  differs  in  somewhat  larger  size; 
much  longer  tail;  much  narrower  tail  band;  and  more  pronounced  and 
more  numerous  white  spots  on  the  outer  webs  of  the  outer  primaries. 
Under  parts  deep  ochraceous  cinnamon,  with  a  few,  mostly  small  and 
narrow,  black  spots  on  the  sides  of  the  abdomen  (other  specimens  have 
the  black  spots  on  the  under  parts  practically  absent  or  when  present 
they  are  small,  linear  in  shape  and  usually  confined  to  the  sides  of  the 
body) ;  outer  webs  of  the  second,  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  outer  primaries 
with  large  white  spots  (the  second  usually  with  three  large  exposed  spots, 
and  a  fourth  concealed  by  the  coverts;  the  third  with  four,  the  fourth 
with  two  and  three,  and  in  typical  specimens  from  high  altitudes  the  fifth 
and  often  the  sixth  with  at  least  one);  greatest  breadth  of  the  black 
subterminal  band  on  the  tail,  measured  at  the  shaft  of  the  feather, 
1 8  mm. ;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  rufous,  with  a  subterminal  black  band 
and  the  tip  white;  under  wing  coverts  white,  spotted  with  black,  and 
the  outer  portion  strongly  tinged  with  buff. 


324    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

Wing,  202;  tail,  144;  tarsus,  37.5  mm. 

Average  measurements  of  four  males  from  Quito  and  Mt.  Chim- 
borazo:  Wing,  196  to  205,  average  200;  tail,  140  to  144,  average  141; 
width  of  tail  band,  16  to  20,  average  18  mm.  Measurements  of  three 
females:  Wing,  194  to  208;  tail,  143  to  148  mm. 

Comparative  differences.  The  male  of  this  large,  deeply  colored 
race  may  be  distinguished  at  a  glance  from  all  other  known  American 
forms  (except  C.  s.  ochracea  and  C.  s.  intermedia)  by  its  deep  ochraceous 
cinnamon  and  usually  nearly  immaculate  under  parts;  its  large  size; 
long  tail;  and  noticeably  white  blotches  or  spots  on  the  outer  webs  of 
several  (including  the  second)  of  the  outer  primaries.  From  C.  s. 
ochracea  it  may  be  distinguished  by  its  much  narrower  tail  band,  which 
in  ochracea  averages  about  29  mm. ;  larger  size;  and  the  large  white  spots 
on  the  outer  web  of  the  second  (outer)  primary  and  several  of  the 
others.  From  C.  s.  intermedia  it  may  be  separated  by  its  much  longer 
tail;  average  larger  size;  somewhat  narrower  tail  band;  buffy  tinge  on 
outer  under  wing  coverts;  and  the  larger  and  more  numerous  white 
spots  on  the  second,  third  and  fourth  outer  primaries.  From  the  type 
specimen  of  C.  s.  cequatorialis  it  differs  in  its  much  more  deeply  colored 
under  parts;  absence  of  numerous,  large,  rounded  black  spots;  much 
narrower  tail  band;  somewhat  larger  size,  and  the  presence  of  several 
large  white  spots  on  the  outer  webs  of  several  of  the  outer  primaries. 
The  female  averages  larger  in  size,  the  breast  is  rather  more  tawny,  and 
the  buffy  spots  on  the  second  and  third  (outer)  primaries  are  larger 
and  more  numerous  than  in  allied  races. 

Specimens  examined:  Ecuador  —  Mt.  Chimborazo,  3  o" ;  Quito, 
i  d",  i  9;  Riobamba,  id";  "Ecuador,"  id";  Ambato,  2  9;  Chuncha, 
i  9  ;  Cumbaga,  i  9 . 

Remarks:  Two  males  have  the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix 
rufous,  with  the  usual  subterminal  band  of  black  and  the  tip  white. 
Two  others  have  the  greater  portion  of  the  web  rufous,  but  have  two 
black  bands  on  the  terminal  part,  the  space  between  the  bands  being 
white.  None  of  them  show  any  rufous  on  the  crown,  and  in  four  out 
of  the  five  males  the  tips  of  the  rectrices  are  more  or  less  mixed  with 
rufous.  None  of  the  females  show  any  rufous  on  the  crown.  The 
specimen  from  Riobamba,  which  I  have  provisionally  referred  to  this 
race,  is  not  typical.  It  is  smaller  (wing,  185;  tail,  136);  has  less  white 
marking  on  the  outer  web  of  the  third  and  fourth  outer  primaries  and 
some  white  mixed  with  the  rufous  and  a  second  black  band  on  the 
terminal  part  of  the  outer  rectrix.  Another  specimen  from  Huigra, 
Chimborazo  (alt.  about  5000  ft.),  is  apparently  an  intergrade,  being 
smaller  (wing,  187;  tail,  130);  the  under  parts  paler;  tail  band  24;  and 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         325 

spots  on  outer  webs  of  primaries  fewer  and  narrower,  and  the  outer 
rectrix  black  and  white. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  intermedia  subsp.  nov. 

Type  from  Villavicencio  (alt.  1600  ft.),  base  of  eastern  Andes, 
Colombia.  Adult  male,  No.  121449,  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  New  York.  Collected  by  Chapman,  Cherrie,  et  al.,  March  14, 


Range:  Andes  region  of  Colombia,  from  Cundinamarca  and 
Bogota  southward. 

Characters:  Adult  male.  Similar  to  C.  s.  ochracea  in  its  deeply 
colored  ochraceous  cinnamon  and  practically  unspotted  under  parts, 
but  differs  in  averaging  somewhat  larger;  black  subterminal  band  on 
the  rectrices  much  shorter,  and  more  pronounced  white  markings  on 
the  outer  webs  of  second  and  third  (outer)  primaries.  The  type  speci- 
men has  the  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  barred  with  black  and  white, 
with  a  tinge  of  rufous  near  the  shaft  on  the  basal  part. 

Male:  Wing,  189;  tail,  127;  tarsus,  37;  greatest  breadth  of  black 
tail  band  (measured  at  shaft  of  feather),  20  mm.  Average  measure- 
ments of  seven  males  from  Villaviciencio,  Honda,  Magdalena  River, 
and  Bogota:  Wing,  177  to  189,  average  185;  tail,  124  to  132,  average 
129  mm.  Seven  males  from  Cundinamarca,  which  are  apparently 
this  form,  average  decidedly  larger:  Wing,  188  to  199,  but  the  tail 
measurements  (126  to  132)  and  the  subterminal  band  on  the  tail  (18 
to  22)  average  about  the  same. 

Female:    Wing,  194;  tail,  139  mm. 

Comparative  differences:  The  practically  unspotted  and  deeply 
colored  under  parts  will  readily  distinguish  males  of  this  race  from  other 
South  American  forms  except  C,  s.  ochracea  and  C.  s.  andina.  From 
the  former  it  differs  in  averaging  somewhat  larger  ;  in  the  much  narrower 
black  tail  band  (varying  from  18  to  22  mm.;  while  in  ochracea  it  varies 
from  28  to  34,  averaging  about  29)  ;  and  in  the  much  more  pronounced 
white  markings  on  the  outer  webs  of  the  second  and  third  (outer) 
primaries,  the  second  having  two  spots  or  streaks  and  the  third  three 
well  marked  spots  (in  ochracea  the  second  is  plain  or  with  one  small 
spot,  and  on  the  third  the  three  spots  are  small  and  narrow).  From 
C.  s.  andina  it  differs  in  averaging  smaller  in  size;  much  shorter  tail; 
somewhat  broader  tail  band;  much  smaller  and  less  numerous  white 
spots  on  the  outer  webs  of  the  outer  primaries  (in  andina  the  white 
spots  are  much  larger,  and  are  present  on  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  often 
the  sixth  outer  primary,  as  well  as  the  second  and  third)  ,  and  in  purer 
white  under  wing  coverts. 


326    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

Specimens  examined:  Colombia  —  Cundinamarca,  73%  49; 
Villavicencio,  i  d1;  Honda,  Magdalena  River,  40%  19;  Bogota,  2  d", 
3  9  ;  Rio  Toche,  Tolima,  i  9  ;  Andalucia,  eastern  Andes,  id1,  2  9 . 

Remarks:  All  the  males  which  I  have  seen  have  two  white  spots  or 
streaks  on  the  outer  web  of  the  second  (outer)  primary,  and,  with  one 
exception,  three  well  marked  spots  on  the  third.  Twelve  males  have 
the  crown  plain  and  only  two  show  a  trace  of  rufous.  The  coloration 
of  the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix  is  very  variable.  Five  males  have 
it  rufous,  with  the  usual  subterminal  black  band  and  white  tip;  four 
have  it  part  rufous  and  part  white,  with  two  black  bands;  and  three 
have  it  alternately  banded  with  black  and  white,  without  rufous. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  ochracea  Cory. 

Cerchneis  sparverius  ochracea  Cory,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub., 
Ornith.  Series,  I,  No.  8,  1915,  p.  298. 

Type  locality:  Colon  (alt.  about  2300  ft.),  Tachira,  western  Vene- 
zuela. 

Range:  Western  Venezuela  and  northeastern  Colombian  region 
north  and  east  of  Cundinamarca;  probably  intergrading  with  intermedia 
in  the  south  and  isabellina  or  distincta  in  eastern  Venezuela. 

Characters:  Adult  male.  Greater  portion  of  under  parts  ochraceous 
rufous  cinnamon  or  ochraceous  cinnamon,  becoming  ochraceous  buff 
on  the  thighs  and  pale  ochraceous  buff  on  the  under  tail  coverts;  black 
spots  on  under  parts  confined  to  sides  of  body  and  nearly  or  quite 
concealed  when  the  wing  is  closed;  crown  dark  slaty  gray,  darker  than 
in  brevipennis  and  about  the  same  as  cauca  and  peruviana;  outer  web 
of  second  outer  primary  without  white  spots  or  occasionally  with  a  slight 
trace;  outer  web  of  third  outer  primary  with  from  one  to  three  small 
spots  or  short  narrow  streaks;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  (in  type) 
rufous,  with  one  subterminal  black  band  of  black,  and  grayish  white 
tip. 

Male:  Wing  (of  type),  185  ;*  tail,  133 ;  tarsus,  34;  tail  band,  33  mm. 
Average  of  nine  males  from  Merida  and  Colon,  Tachira,  Venezuela, 
and  Paramo  de  Tama  and  Andalucia,  Colombia:  Wing,  180  to  185, 
average  183;  tail,  127  to  132,  average  130;  length  of  subterminal  black 
band  on  the  tail,  27  to  33,  average  29  mm. 

Female:  Wing,  191  to  195,  average  193;  tail,  135  to  139,  average 
136  mm. 

Distinguishing  characters:  This  race,  on  account  of  the  deeply 
colored  and  practically  unspotted  under  parts  (black  spots  when  pres- 

*  By  mistake  the  measurement  of  the  wing  in  the  original  description  of  the 
type  was  given  as  190  mm. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         327 

ent  being  nearly  or  quite  concealed  by  the  closed  wing),  needs  com- 
parison with  but  three  other  forms;  i.e., intermedia, andina, and  perplexa. 
From  intermedia  it  differs  in  its  much  longer  tail  band,  and  difference 
in  white  spotting  of  the  outer  webs  of  the  second  and  third  outer  prima- 
ries. From  andina  it  may  be  distinguished  by  its  smaller  size;  shorter 
tail;  much  longer  tail  band  and  the  absence  of  large  white  spots  on  the 
outer  webs  of  several  of  the  outer  primaries,  and  from  perplexa  by  its 
much  larger  size  and  more  rufous  (less  chestnut)  upper  parts,  especially 
rump  and  upper  surface  of  tail.  It  may  be  added,  that  the  much  darker 
and  very  differently  colored  under  parts  will  at  once  distinguish  it  from 
isabellina  and  distincta. 

Specimens  examined:  Venezuela  —  Colon  (alt.  about  2300  ft.), 
Tachira,  i  tf,  i  9  ;  near  Merida  (alt.  about  5300  ft.),  7  d",  29. 

Colombia  —  Paramo"  de  Tama  (alt.  about  7000  ft.),  near  Venezuelan 
line,  i  tf,  i  9. 

Remarks:  Three  males  have  the  crown  plain,  without  rufous;  two 
show  a  slight  trace  of  rufous;  three  show  a  small  crown  patch  and  one 
(from  ParamO  de  Tama)  has  a  well  marked  rufous  crown  patch.  One 
specimen  has  a  small  white  spot  on  the  outer  web  of  the  second  outer 
primary;  one  shows  a  trace,  and  on  the  others  the  outer  web  of  the 
feather  is  plain.  All  of  the  males  have  from  one  to  three  small  spots 
or  streaks  on  the  outer  web  of  the  third  outer  primary,  but  they  are 
small,  narrow,  and  inconspicuous.  Males  from  Colon,  Tachira,  and 
ParamO  de  Tama,  have  the  tail  band  very  wide,  measuring  about  33 
mm.  In  the  specimen  from  Merida  it  varies  from  27  to  30,  the  majority 
measuring  28  to  29  mm.  The  coloration  of  the  inner  web  of  the  outer 
rectrix  is  very  variable.  In  three  specimens  it  is  black  and  white 
without  rufous;  three  specimens  have  it  part  white  and  part  rufous,  and 
three  have  it  rufous  with  one  subterminal  black  band  and  white  tip. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  perplexa  subsp.  nov. 

Emerillon  de  Cayenne,  Buff.,  PI.  Enl.,  I,  1770,  pi.  444. 

Type  from  Lower  Essequibo  River,  British  Guiana.  Adult  male, 
No.  47651,  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  From  J.  Rodway. 

Range:  Extent  of  range  unknown,  probably  low  country  from 
British  Guiana,  eastward  at  least  to  Cayenne. 

Characters:  Adult  male.  Size  small;  general  under  parts  deeply 
colored,  approaching  that  of  ochracea,  but  back  more  rufous  chestnut; 
rump  and  upper  surface  of  tail  distinctly  tinged  with  chestnut;  crown 
plumbeous  gray,  somewhat  more  plumbeous  than  in  isabellina;  pri- 
maries and  secondaries  tipped  with  whitish;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix 


328     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

barred  with  black  and  white;  outer  web  of  second  (outer)  primary  with 
only  a  slight  indication  of  a  white  spot  on  the  exposed  portion  near  the 
base,  the  third  the  same,  but  the  spot  somewhat  more  exposed;  length 
of  black  band  on  the  central  rectrices  23  mm. 

Wing,  169;  tail,  120;  tarsus,  31  mm. 

Female:  Wing,  182;  tail,  126  mm. 

Specimens  examined:    British  Guiana — Essequibo  River,  id",  i  9. 

Comparative  differences:  Compared  with  other  races  having  deeply 
colored  unspotted  under  parts,  C.  s.  perplexa  differs  from  andina  and 
intermedia  in  its  much  smaller  size;  absence  of  pronounced  white  spots 
on  the  outer  webs  of  the  second  and  third  (outer)  primaries,  etc.,  etc. 
From  ochracea  it  differs  in  its  smaller  size,  shorter  tail  band,  etc.  It 
somewhat  resembles  C.  s.  margaritensis,  but  the  under  parts  are  more 
deeply  colored;  the  upper  parts  more  rufous  chestnut;  and  it  lacks  the 
well  marked  white  spots  on  the  outer  webs  of  the  second  and  third 
(outer)  primaries.  From  C.  s.  isabellina  it  may  be  distinguished  at  a 
glance  by  its  deeply  colored  under  parts. 

Remarks:  This  strongly  colored  race  probably  ranges  so  far  east  as 
Cayenne,  as  it  agrees  very  well  with  Buffon's  colored  plate,  illustrat- 
ing the  Emerillon  de  Cayenne  (/.  c.).  Bonyan*  also  refers  to  the 
Cayenne  bird  as  the  "Chestnut-bellied  Falcon."  That  the  deeply 
colored  under  parts  in  this  bird  is  not  due  to  age  may  be  assumed  from 
the  fact  that  fully  adult  males  of  C.  s.  distincta  (which  approaches  very 
closely  in  coloration  of  the  under  parts  to  C.  s.  isabellina}  have  the  under 
parts  very  nearly  as  pale  as  in  immature  specimens. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  isabellina  (Swains.). 

Falco  isabellina  Swains.,  Anim.  in  Menag.,  I,  1837,  p.  281. 

Type  locality:    Demerara,  British  Guiana. 

Range:     British  Guiana  (limits  of  range  unknown) . 

Characters:  Under  parts  unspotted  or  .with  a  few  spots  on  the  flanks 
concealed  by  the  wing;  breast  and  upper  abdomen  washed  with  light 
pinkish  cinnamon  or  pale  Isabella  buff;  lower  abdomen,  thighs,  and 
under  tail  coverts  almost  white;  outer  web  of  second  (outer)  primary 
plain  or  with  a  faint  trace  of  a  small  white  spot;  outer  web  of  third 
with  two  small  white  spots  or  a  narrow  white  or  whitish  streak;  inner 
web  of  outer  rectrix  normally  rufous]  with  one  subterminal  black  band 
and  the  tip  white. 

*Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1851,  p.  60. 

t  The  specimen  in  the  National  Museum  collection  has  the  greater  portion  of 
the  inner  web  rufous,  with  two  black  bands  near  the  end  separated  by  a  whitish 
space. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         329 

Wing  (of  the  single  specimen  examined),  166;  tail  (badly  worn), 
115;  tail  band,  24mm. 

Distinguishing  characters:  The  very  pale  and  unspotted  under 
parts  of  C.  s.  isabellina  will  at  once  distinguish  it  from  other  forms, 
with  the  exception  of  C.  s.  distincta  from  which  it  apparently  differs* 
in  having  the  crown  darker  (less  ashy) ;  the  wing  and  tail  somewhat  shor- 
ter; and  in  the  white  marking  of  the  inner  webs  of  the  outer  primaries. 
In  isabellina  (and  in  most  other  races)  the  inner  webs  of  the  outer  pri- 
maries have  seven  or  eight  white  bars,  the  dark  bars  which  separate 
them  reaching  nearly  or  quite  to  the  edge  of  the  web  on  the  greater 
portion,  and  on  some  of  the  feathers  the  two  distal  white  patches  often 
being  confluent.  In  distincta,  however,  the  greater  portion  of  the  inner 
web  is  white,  the  dark  bars  being  much  shorter  and  more  irregular,  often 
(especially  on  the  basal  half  of  the  feather)  not  extending  beyond  the 
middle  of  the  web  so  that  the  white  areas  are  correspondingly  increased. 
From  C.  s.  margaritensis  it  may  be  separated  by  its  paler  under  parts 
(less  distinctly  tinged  with  ochraceous  cinnamon) ;  paler  abdomen  and 
flanks;  and  the  absence  of  distinct  white  spots  on  the  outer  web  of  the 
second  outer  primary. 

Specimens  examined:  British  Guiana,  i  d"  (U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No. 
90160). 

Remarks:  Judging  from  published  descriptions  and  the  very  few 
specimens  I  have  seen  from  British  Guiana,  I  am  forced  to  believe  that 
two  small  forms  of  Cerchneis  inhabit  that  region:  one  (isabellina')  a  pale 
form  which  occurs  on  the  higher  savanas  of  the  interior,  and  the  other 
(perplexa)  a  dark  form  probably  inhabiting  the  low  country  bordering 
the  rivers  and  in  the  valleys  nearer  the  coast.  Swainson's  original 
description  of  the  type  (/.  c.)  gives  the  "breast  and  body  beneath, 
isabella,  unspotted."  Wing,  6  3-10  in.  and  tail  5  in.  Penard  and 
Penard  (Vogels  von  Guyana,  I,  1908,  p.  437)  describe  C.  s.  isabellina 
as  having  the  throat  white,  passing  into  light  brown  or  yellowish  white 
on  the  breast;  wing  175  mm.  Sharpe,  who  had  access  to  Swainson's 
type  and  other  specimens  from  British  Guiana  (obtained  by  Schomburgk 
and  preserved  in  the  British  Museum),  gives  the  coloration  of  the  under 
parts  of  the  body  as  "pale  fawn  shading  into  buffy  white  on  the  flanks 
and  thighs"  (Cat.  Bds.  Brit.  Mus.,  I,  1874,  p.  441).  We  must,  there- 
fore, assume  that  the  bird  described  as  isabellina  by  Swainson  is  a  pale 
form  closely  approaching  distincta  in  the  coloration  of  the  under  parts. 

A  specimen  in  the  collection  of  the  United  States  National  Museum 

*  The  single  specimen  of  isabellina  I  have  seen  from  British  Guiana  is  faded  and 
worn  and  the  measurements  evidently  below  the  average.  A  good  series  may  prove 
the  supposed  characters  separating  it  from  C.  s.  distincta  to  be  inconstant. 


33°    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

(No.  90160),  originally  in  the  collection  of  Dr.  P.  L.  Sclater,  and  taken 
in  British  Guiana  by  Mr.  E.  F.  im  Thurm,  agrees  very  well  with  the 
above  descriptions  in  size  and  pale  coloration  of  the  under  parts  and 
appears  to  represent  typical  C.  s.  isabellina  Swainson.  It  is  very  likely 
that  the  specimen  in  question  came  from  the  high  savanas  of  the  interior, 
probably  in  the  vicinity  of  Roraima.* 

Two  specimens  from  eastern  Venezuela,  one  from  Maripa,  Caura 
River,  and  the  other  from  San  Antonio,  Burmudez,  are  puzzling  and 
cannot  be  readily  referred  to  any  described  form.  Both  have  the  breast 
decidedly  more  deeply  colored  than  in  distincta  or  isabellina,  and  paler 
than  in  ochracea  or  perplexa,  approaching  margaritensis  in  the  coloration 
of  the  under  parts;  but  the  paler  gray  crown  is  nearer  distincta. 

The  San  Antonio  bird  (wing,  177;  tail,  126)  has  a  wide  tail  band, 
approaching  that  of  ochracea,  but  in  the  male  from  Maripa,  the  black 
tail  band  is  much  narrower.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  they  may  prove 
to  be  intergrades  between  ochracea  and  isabellina,  but  more  specimens 
from  these  localities  are  needed  to  determine  their  relationship. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  distincta  Cory. 

Cerchneis  sparverius  distincta  Cory,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pdb., 
Ornith.  Series,  I,  No.  8,  1915,  p.  297. 

Type  locality:    Boa  Vista,  Rio  Branco,  Amazonas,  northern  Brazil. 

Range:  Rio  Branco  region,  Amazonas,  northern  Brazil  (limits 
of  range  unknown). 

Characters:  Back  ochraceous  cinnamon  rufous;  crown  ashy  gray 
and  without  noticeable  dark  shaft  streaks;  chest  washed  with  pale 
rufous  cinnamon  (approaching  ochraceous  tawny,  with  a  tinge  of  rufous, 
and  palest  of  the  races  except  isabellina) ,  becoming  whitish  on  the  ab- 
domen and  buffy  white  on  the  flanks  and  under  tail  coverts;  under  parts 
unspotted;  outer  web  of  outer  rectrix  white,  with  occasionally  narrow 
black  streaks  bordering  the  shaft;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  largely 
rufous,  with  one  black  subterminal  band,  the  tip  white;  tips  of  all 
except  the  outer  rectrices  white,  in  the  middle  bordered  with  more  or 
less  rufous;  greater  portion  of  the  inner  web  of  the  outer  primaries  white, 
the  dark  bars  or  patches  being  much  shorter  and  more  irregular  than 
in  allied  forms,  often  (especially  on  the  basal  half  of  the  feathers)  not 
extending  beyond  the  middle  of  the  web,  the  white  areas  being  corre- 
spondingly increased;  outer  web  of  second  (outer)  primary  plain  or  with 
a  trace  of  one  small  white  spot;  outer  web  of  third  with  two  (rarely 
three)  small  white  spots  or  narrow  streaks. 

•  See  Salvin,  Ibis,  1885,  p.  196;  *&.,  1886,  p.  76. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.          331 

Male:  Wing,  182 ;  tail,  130;  tarsus,  33  mm.  Measurements  of  seven 
males:  Wing,  174  to  183,  average  179;  tail,  127  to  131,  average  129; 
tail  band,  24  to  28,  average  about  26  mm. 

Female:  Wing,  178  to  185,  average  183;  tail,  131  mm. 

Distinguishing  characters:  Differs  from  C.  s.  isabellina*  in  the 
paler  (more  ashy  gray)  crown;  average  longer  wings  and  tail,  and  much 
more  white  on  inner  webs  of  primaries.  It  is  separated  from  C.  s. 
margaritensis  by  its  decidedly  paler  under  parts;  paler  crown;  more  white 
on  inner  webs  of  primaries;  difference  in  color  of  inner  webs  of  outer 
rectrices,  and  somewhat  longer  wings  and  tail.  It  may  be  distinguished 
at  a  glance  from  C.  s.  ochracea  by  its  paler  under  parts,  and  much  nar- 
rower tail  band;  from  C.  s.  australis  by  its  unspotted  under  parts  and 
other  characters. 

Specimens  examined:  Brazil  —  Boa  Vista,  Rio  Branco,  Amazonas, 
5  <?,  i  9  ;  Base  of  Serra  da  Lua  Mts.,  near  Boa  Vista,  2  <?,  i  9 . 

Remarks:  Four  of  the  males  have  the  crown  plain;  three  show  a 
trace  of  rufous;  one  female  has  the  plain,  gray  crown,  the  others  show  a 
trace  of  rufous;  all  of  the  males  have  the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix 
rufous,  with  one  subterminal  black  band  and  the  tip  white. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  margaritensis  Cory. 

Cerchneis  sparverius  margaritensis  Cory,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
Pub.,  Ornith.  Series,  I,  No.  8,  1915,  p.  297. 

Type  locality:    Margarita  Island,  off  Venezuela. 

Range:    Margarita  Island  (and  possibly  northeastern  Venezuela). 

Characters:  Breast  and  more  or  less  of  abdomen  ochraceous  cinna- 
mon (much  paler  than  in  ochracea  or  perplexa,  but  decidedly  darker 
than  in  distincta  or  isabellina) ,  becoming  much  paler  on  lower  abdomen 
and  flanks;  under  parts  without  black  spots,  or  with  a  few  on  the  sides 
which  are  concealed  when  the  wing  is  closed;  back  vinaceous  cinnamon 
rufous,  approaching  in  color  that  of  C.  s.  brevipennis;  inner  web  of  outer 
rectrix  dull  white,  with  several  black  bands;  crown  approaching  deep 
neutral  gray  (Ridgway),  but  slightly  paler;  outer  web  of  second  (outer) 
primary  with  two  white  spots  of  medium  size;  the  third  with  three 
white  spots  sometimes  nearly  confluent  in  the  form  of  a  narrow  streak. 

Male:  Wing,  170  to  177,  average  175;  tail,  120  to  129,  average 
125;  tail  band,  23  to  28,  average  about  26  mm. 

Female:  Wing,  178  to  184,  average  181;  tail,  129  to  131  mm. 

*  Judging  from  the  single  specimen  of  C.  s.  isabellina  from  British  Guiana  seen 
by  me,  whether  or  not  these  differences  are  constant  can  only  be  determined  by  com- 
parison with  a  good  series  from  that  region. 


332     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

Distinguishing  characters:  C,  s.  margaritensis  may  be  distinguished 
from  C.  s.  isabellina  by  its  much  darker  under  parts  and  marking  of  the 
outer  rectrices.  From  C.  s.  distincta  it  differs  by  its  much  darker  crown; 
darker  under  parts  and  differently  colored  outer  rectrices.  From 
C.  s.  ochracea  it  may  be  separated  by  its  much  paler  under  parts 
and  somewhat  narrower  tail  band;  from  C.  s.  brevipennis  by  its  larger 
size  and  more  immaculate  under  wing  covers,  etc. ;  and  from  perplexa 
by  its  somewhat  paler  under  parts,  less  chestnut  rufous  upper  parts, 
and  well  marked  white  spots  on  the  outer  webs  of  the  second  and  third 
(outer)  primaries. 

Specimens  examined:    Margarita  Island,  40",  29. 

Remarks:  All  of  the  males  have  the  crown  plain,  without  rufous 
and  the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix  black  and  white.  One  female 
has  a  small  rufous  crown  patch. 

Cerchneis  sparveria  brevipennis  (Berlep.}. 

Tinnunculus  sparverius  brevipennis  Berlep.,  J.f.O.,  1892,  p.  91. 

Type  locality:    Curacao  Island  (off  Venezuela). 

Range:    Curacao,  Aruba  and  Bonaire  Islands. 

Characters:  Similar  to  C.  s.  margaritensis  in  general  coloration,  but 
with  sides  of  the  abdomen  more  or  less  spotted  with  black  (in  very 
young  birds  the  whole  abdomen  is  sometime  spotted)  and  with  numerous 
black  markings  on  the  under  wing  coverts;  tail  band  about  25  mm.; 
inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  normally  black  and  white;  white  spots  on  outer 
webs  of  outer  primaries  as  in  margaritensis. 

Adult  male:  Wing,  163  to  169,  average  167;  tail,  120  to  128,  aver- 
age 125  mm. 

Female:  Wing,  169  to  178,  average  174;  tail,  129  to  134,  average 
about  132  mm. 

Young  male:  Under  parts  heavily  spotted  with  black,  spots  on 
the  sides  forming  a  broad  band  on  the  feathers  a'nd  extending  on  the 
flanks;  gray  feathers  of  the  wing  coverts  edged  with  pale  rusty;  some  of 
the  feathers  on  base  of  crown  edged  with  rufous;  back  with  broad  black 
bands  on  the  feathers  extending  nearly  to  the  nape;  inner  web  of  outer 
rectrix  as  in  adult,  except  tips,  this  and  other  rectrices  washed  with 
rufous;  white  spots  on  outer  webs  of  outer  primaries  as  in  the  adult. 
(Young  male)  Wing,  158;  tail,  125  mm. 

Distinguishing  characters:  The  short  wing  combined  with  the 
vinaceous  cinnamon  back  will  distinguish  C.  s.  brevipennis  from  other 
races. 

Specimens  examined:    Curacao  I.,  7  <?,  5  9 ;  Aruba  I.,  2  d" ,  29. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         333 

Remarks:  Two  males  have  a  small  rufous  crown  patch;  three  show 
a  trace  of  rufous  and  the  rest  are  plain.  Four  of  the  seven  females 
show  a  little  rufous  on  the  crown.  Two  of  the  males  have  the  inner 
web  of  the  outer  rectrix  with  some  rufous  on  the  basal  portion,  but  seven 
have  it  black  and  white  without  rufous.  Two  very  young  males  have 
the  plumbeous  gray  feathers  of  the  wings  edged  with  rusty;  the  back 
heavily  banded  with  black  and  the  feathers  on  the  posterior  portion 
of  the  crown  distinctly  marked  with  rufous  in  one  and  slightly  so  in  the 
other.  Both  specimens  have  the  entire  abdomen  spotted  with  black,* 
the  inner  web  of  the  outer  rectrix  barred  with  black  and  white,  and 
the  white  tips  of  the  rectrices  show  a  slight  wash  of  rufous. 


KEY  TO  THE  SUBSPECIES. 
ADULT  MALES 

Males  may  be  distinguished  from  females  by  their  plumbeous  gray 
wing  coverts  and  (in  South  American  races)  by  having  but  one  black 
bar  on  the  central  rectrices,  differently  marked  under  parts,  etc. 

I.  Breast  and  often  more  or  less  of  under  parts  strongly  ochraceous 
cinnamon,  or  cinnamon  rufous. 

A.  Under  parts  with  numerous  black  spots. 

a.  Back  rufous  or  cinnamon  rufous;  black  bars  variable. 

a'  Wing  more  than  186;  tail  band  more  than  24  mm. 
Wing,  about  190;  tail,  about  140;  tail  band  26  mm. 

C.  s.  eequatorialis ,  p.  322. 

b'  Wing  less  than  186;  tail  band  less  than  24  mm. 
Greater  portion  of  under  parts  deeply  colored. 

C.  s.  cuacce,  p.  321. 

Under  parts  much  paler;   abdomen  buffy  white  or 
whitish. 

C.  5.  peruviana,  p.  319. 

b.  Back  rufous  chestnut;  black  bars  large. 

Black  markings  on  under  parts  irregular  and  con- 
spicuously heavy. 

C.  s.  fernandensis,  p.  316. 

B.  Under  parts  without  black  spots  or  with  black  spots  con- 
fined to  the  sides  and  largely  concealed  when  the  wing  is  closed. 

*  This  would  seemingly  indicate  that  the  black  spotting  on  the  under  parts 
(in  this  form  at  least)  is  a  juvenile  character  which  largely  disappears  and  becomes 
confined  to  the  sides  in  the  adult.  But  this  is  apparently  not  the  case  in  such  races 
as  C.  s.  australis,  C.  s.  peruviana,  C.  s.  cinnamomina,  etc.,  as  no  unspotted  specimens 
have  ever  been  recorded  and  the  numerous  unquestionably  adult  specimens  which 
I  have  examined  have  a  considerable  portion  of  the  under  parts  strongly  spotted. 


334     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ORNITHOLOGY,  VOL.  I. 

a.  Back  cinnamon  rufous,  or  chestnut  rufous. 

a'  Wing  less  than  177  mm. 

Black  tail  band  about  23;  exposed  outer  webs  of 
second  and  third  (outer)  primaries  plain  or  with  a 
small  white  spot  at  the  base. 

C.  s.  perplexa,  p.  327. 
b'  Wing  more  than  177  mm. 

Black  tail  band,  about  29  (28  to  34);  tail,  about  131; 
outer  web  of  second  (outer)  primary  plain  or  with 
one  small  white  spot;  spots  on  outer  web  of  third 
primary  small;  outer  web  of  fourth  plain. 

C.  s.  ochracea,  p.  326. 

Black  tail  band,  about  20  (18  to  23);  tail,  average 
about  131;  white  spots  on  outer  web  of  third  (outer) 
primary  larger;  the  outer  web  of  fourth  plain. 

C.  s.  intermedia,  p.  325. 

Black  tail  band,  about  18  (15  to  21);  tail  long,  138 
to  144;  outer  webs  of  second,  third,  fourth,  and  fifth 
(outer)  primaries  with  large  white  spots. 

C.  s.  andina,  p.  323. 

b.  Back  vinaceous  cinnamon. 

Wing  more  than  1 70  mm.     C.  s.  margaritensis,  p.  331. 
Wing  less  than  170  mm.         C.  s.  brevipennis,  p.  332. 
II.  Breast  tinged  with  pale  ochraceous    cinnamon,   pale  cinnamon 
rufous,  or  breast  buffy  white  or  white. 
A.  Under  parts  with  numerous  black  spots, 
a.  Back  cinnamon  rufous  or  rufous. 

Black  tail  band  narrow  (9  to  16);  tips  of  rectrices 
partly  or  wholly  rufous ;  wing  more  than  190;  inner  web 
of  outer  rectrix  normally  rufous  with  one  black  band. 

C.  s.  cinnamomina,  p.  315. 

Tail  band  18  to  22;  wing  less  than  187  (175  to  185), 
average  181;  tail,  122  to  131,  average  127;  inner 
web  of  outer  rectrix  normally  black  and  white ;  under 
parts  paler  than  peruviana;  sides  and  flanks  whitish. 

C.  s.  australis,  p.  316. 

Tail  band  17  to  22;  wing  less  than  187  (175  to  185), 
average  181;  tail  129  to  138,  average  134;  under 
parts  usually  darker  than  in  australis;  sides  and  more 
or  less  of  flanks  buffy;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix 
normally  rufous  with  one  black  band. 

C.  s.  peruviana,  p.  319. 


AUGUST,  1915.    NOTES  ON  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS  —  CORY.         335 

b.  Back  vinaceous  cinnamon. 

Wing  less  than  170;  some  specimens  have  exposed 
spots  on  sides  of  abdomen;  very  young  birds  are  much 
spotted  on  the  under  parts. 

C.  s.  brevipennis,  p.  332. 

B.  Under  parts  without  black  spots  or  with  black  spots  confined 
to  the  sides  and  largely  concealed  when  the  wing  is  closed. 

a.  Back  rufous  cinnamon. 

Breast  pale,  only  slightly  tinged  with  pale  ochraceous 
cinnamon  or  isabella  buff;  dark  bars  on  inner  webs 
of  primaries  not  unusually  restricted  and  white  areas 
not  unusually  large;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  normal- 
ly rufous. 

C.  s.  isabellina,  p.  328. 

Breast  washed  with  pale  ochraceous  cinnamon; 
greater  portion  of  inner  webs  of  primaries  white, 
many  of  the  dark  bars  being  short  and  irregular;  inner 
web  of  outer  rectrix  rufous. 

C.  s.  distincta,  p.  330. 

b.  Back  vinaceous  cinnamon. 

Breast  and  more  or  less  of  under  parts  usually  strong- 
ly tinged  with  ochraceous  cinnamon;  wing  more  than 
170;  inner  webs  of  outer  rectrices  normally  black  and 
white. 

C.  s.  margaritensis*,  p.  331. 

Breast  and  more  or  less  of  under  parts  usually 
strongly  tinged  with  ochraceous  rufous;  wing  less  than 
170;  inner  web  of  outer  rectrix  normally  black  and 
white. 

C.  5.  brevipennis,  p.  332. 

*  C.  s.  margaritensis  and  C.  s.  brevipennis  properly  belong  in  Group  I,  but  an 
exceptionally  pale  specimen  might  be  looked  for  here. 


